Nova (Sam Alexander)

Nova (Sam Alexander) is a fictional superhero who appears in publications from Marvel Comics. The character, a space-faring member of the intergalactic police force known as the Nova Corps, was created in 2011 by writer Jeph Loeb and artist Ed McGuinness, based on the original Nova Richard Rider. The Sam Alexander version of the character first appeared in the Marvel Point One one-shot in November 2011 before starring in his own series beginning in February 2013.

Publication history

After debuting in Point One, Alexander appeared in Avengers vs. X-Men #1 (April 2012) and #12 (October 2012). He now stars in Nova, volume 5, originally written by Jeph Loeb with art by Ed McGuiness, which debuted February 20, 2013.^[1]

Fictional character biography

Sam Alexander is a fifteen-year-old living in Carefree, Arizona with his father, mother, and little sister. His father is a drunk who often talks about his supposed life as a Nova Centurion, and shirks his duties as janitor at his son's school. Sam's mother is a Latina homemaker. When Sam comes home from school to find his father missing, Sam accidentally injures himself and wakes up in a hospital. There, Rocket Raccoon and Gamora reveal Sam's father really was in the Nova Corps.^[2] After putting on his father's helmet, Sam travels to the moon, meeting Uatu the Watcher, who reveals a invasion fleet of alien ships belonging to the Chitauri. Upon returning to Earth, Rocket Raccoon and Gamora train him and tell him to scout the fleet.^[3]

Sometime later, Sam is on a mission to warn planets in the path of the Phoenix that it is coming toward them.^[4] He crashes on Earth, but is able to deliver the warning to the Avengers.^[5] After recovering, Nova joins the Avengers and the X-Men against Cyclops, who has become the Dark Phoenix. Thor asks Sam to join the Avengers, and Sam eventually accepts.^[6][7]

During a day of training with Uatu at the Watcher's moon base, Uatu reveals that Sam's father Jesse Alexander is alive. Sam leaves, happy.^[8]

Following Civil War II, Sam leaves the Avengers to join the Champions and "put the world back together".^[9]

Powers and abilities

Sam Alexander wears a helmet that gives him access to the Nova Force, which grants him superhuman strength and durability, flight, energy projection, telekinesis, universal translation and the ability to breathe underwater and survive in space.

Collected editions

• Nova Vol. 1: Origin (collects Nova Vol 5 #1-5, Point One #1 (Nova story), Marvel Now! Point One #1 (Nova story)) September 2013, ISBN 9780785166054
• Nova Vol. 2: Rookie Season (collects Nova Vol 5 #6-9, #10 (A story)) March 2014, ISBN 9780785168393
• Nova Vol. 3: Nova Corpse (collects Nova Vol 5 #10 (B story), #11-16) June 2014, ISBN 9780785189572
• Nova Vol. 4: Original Sin (collects Nova Vol 5 #17-22) January 2015, ISBN 9780785189589
• Nova Vol. 5: Axis (collects Nova Vol 5 #23-27) April 2015, ISBN 9780785192411
• Nova Vol. 6: Homecoming (collects Nova Vol 5 #28-31, Annual #1) November 2015, ISBN 9780785193753
• Nova The Human Rocket Vol. 1: Burn Out (collects Nova Vol 6 #1-6) June 2016, ISBN 9780785196501

In other media

Television

• The Sam Alexander incarnation of Nova appears in Ultimate Spider-Man, voiced by Logan Miller.^[10][11] This version has no family and is the last of the Nova Corps, due to former member Titus wiping the rest out trying to get another helmet. He was trained by Rocket Raccoon and joined as a member of the Guardians of the Galaxy (Star-Lord, Gamora, Drax the Destroyer, and Groot). He left the team for Earth and joined a team of S.H.I.E.L.D. Trainees consisting of Power Man, Iron Fist, White Tiger and Spider-Man. He serves as Spider-Man's friendly rival on the team. In the third season, he unlocks his full power as Nova Prime. For most of the fourth season he is on a mission to protect Madame Web with Nick Fury and returns in "Agent Web" bringing materials that will save Julia from Hydra before falling in a coma. Nova later recovered. In "The Spider-Slayer, Pt. 3", Nova attacks Scarlet Spider because he´s knew that he was Doctor Octopus´spy to endanger SHIELD Academy and Aunt May, along with Power Man and Iron Fist also they agree with Agent Venom in watched, to be all against Scarlet.
• The Sam Alexander version of Nova appears in Marvel Disk Wars: The Avengers, voiced by Suganuma Hisayoshi.

Video games

• Sam Alexander's costume appears as a downloadable alternative for the Richard Rider Nova in Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3.
• Sam Alexander is available as downloadable content for the game LittleBigPlanet, as part of "Marvel Costume Kit 5".^[12]
• Sam Alexander is a playable character in the MMORPG Marvel Heroes, with Logan Miller reprising his speaking role.^[13]
• Sam Alexander appears in Disney Infinity: Marvel Super Heroes, as part of the Ultimate Spider-Man Playset Pack.
• Sam Alexander is a playable character in the Facebook game Marvel: Avengers Alliance.
• Sam Alexander appears as a playable character in Lego Marvel's Avengers voiced by Antony Del Rio.
• Sam Alexander appears as a playable character in Marvel Puzzle Quest.

Toys

• Nova is featured in the Marvel Super Heroes LEGO theme based on his appearance in the Ultimate Spider-Man TV series.^[14]
• A Nova toy was available in the Ultimate Spider-Man 6-inch toyline in 2013.^[15]
• Nova is available for the Disney Infinity 2.0 video game as a figure and playable character.^[16]

Books

In the children's book "Spider-Man: Attack of the Heroes" Nova is mentioned as having teamed up with Spider-Man multiple times. Nova is among the heroes replaced by the Chameleon. This causes many to believe the replaced heroes (Iron Man, the Thing, and Daredevil) have "gone bad". Nova is later freed by Spider-Man.

Reception

The first issue of Nova debuted to positive reviews, including a perfect score at IFanboy.com.^[17] Reviewing for Multiversity Comics, Matthew Meylikhov called the series a "rather exciting prospect" and gave the issue a "Buy" rating, but derided its pacing.^[18]

References